Joy Division – Closer (LP, Warner)

Limited 180gm audiophile vinyl LP repressing of this album by the Manchester post-punk icons featuring the original Peter Saville designed packaging. Closer the band s 1980 sophomore album released two months after the death of lead singer Ian Curtis continued where the first album left off with quot;Heart And Soulquot; quot;Isolationquot; and quot;Twenty Four Hoursquot. Originally named Warsaw the band consisted of singer Ian Curtis guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris. Formed by Sumner and Hook right after they attended a Sex Pistols gig Joy Division transcended their punk roots to develop a sound and style that made them one of the pioneers of the Post-Punk movement. In May 1980 on the eve of the band s debut American tour Curtis aged 23 committed suicide. After Curtis s death the remaining members continued as New Order achieving critical and commercial success. Today Joy Division are seen as one of the most influential bands of the late 1970s.